The Productivity Skills That Actually Get Your Promoted
Career coach Kendall Berg learned the hard way: "Everyone wants you on their team because you're efficient, and nobody likes working with you." This brutal feedback revealed why high performers get stuck—the workplace isn't a meritocracy, and working harder isn't enough for promotion.
Bottom line up front: Promotions aren't just about who works harder. They're about working smarter. Through some in depth research, I wanted to report on specifically which productivity skills drive career advancement.
A massive MIT study tracking 30,000 management employees found something surprising. "Potential ratings" predict promotions 75% more effectively than performance ratings alone. The difference? Potential ratings are driven by people's perceptions of you and your work. Your productivity is a big part of that perception.
Top performers deliver 800% more productivity than average workers through systematic skill development. McKinsey research shows this isn't about talent. This isn't saying you need to be 800% more productive to get promoted. What it's about is systematically developing productivity skills that compound your impact.
Companies now reward measurable productivity over tenure. Machine learning models can predict promotions with 94% accuracy based primarily on training completion rates, performance metrics, and cross-functional project leadership - all productivity-related factors. If they can do that with 94% accuracy without meeting you or getting to know you, to me that means your productivity is a bigger driver than "being buddy-buddy with the boss."
The Eight Skills That Separate Promotable Professionals
1. Time Management and Strategic Prioritization
Photo from Pexels
Only 18% of professionals both HAVE and can CLEARLY DESCRIBE their time management systems, yet those with systems report 44% better work control. Meta-analyses show time management correlates moderately with job performance, and the effect compounds exponentially over their full career.
Tactical implementation: Use the Eisenhower Matrix (which I talk about more under A Few To-Do List Tips & Tactics) and time blocking (A big part of my discussion on implementing Life Balance, Life Balance: The Blueprint You've Been Missing). Research shows 100% of Eisenhower Matrix users report work under control 4-5 days per week. Workers without time management systems waste an average of 91 minutes daily on unimportant tasks.
2. Delegation and Team Empowerment
CEOs who excel at delegation generate 33% higher revenue, yet only 28% of companies teach this skill. Despite delegation being rated the second most important skill for preventing burnout, studies show 90% positive correlation between effective delegation and employee performance.
Tactical implementation: Simple question. Could YOU as the leader take a 2 week vacation to Europe next week and be completely out of touch with your team the whole time? If your answer is anything other than "yes" (I'm betting like me yours is probably closer to "maybe" or "no") then start there, and start tomorrow. THIS is a real area of opportunity for you. Delegation does 2 big things for your team's productivity: 1) It removes you as a bottleneck. They should be able to operate without you. 2) It increases your team's capabilities of handling unexpected issues that WILL happen. You can start by cross training one task, think of it like a mini-rotation program. One person works on what another person regularly does. They don't take the whole job, just one task. That new person documents that one task. Then you rotate the task to a third person, who follows the document and updates it again. If you're the senior leader, ALL your tasks should have people capable of doing them. The best part, you don't have to hire people to do this. You could even leverage people from outside your department.
3. Email and Communication Efficiency
Ai generated photo
Communication consumes 60% of knowledge workers' time, making efficiency crucial for advancement. Clear communication ranks in the top 10 skills employers seek when hiring for higher level positions.
Tactical implementation: Let's see where you are with this. Try this. Copy/Paste the last 10 email chains (emails where you've responded in line more than once, so it's a back-and-forth) into an AI like ChatGPT. Use this prompt:
"Here are 10 email chains I've been involved in. Please analyze them and give me structured feedback on my communication style, clarity, and efficiency. Specifically:
Rate each email (1–10) on clarity, tone, conciseness, and effectiveness.
Identify recurring strengths (things I consistently do well).
Identify recurring weaknesses or habits that reduce efficiency.
Suggest concrete ways I can improve (phrasing, structure, formatting, tone, etc.).
Provide a short "before vs. after" example rewrite of one or two emails to show how your suggestions would look in practice."
4. Meeting Optimization and Leadership
Executives spend 23 hours weekly in meetings while professionals lose 31 hours monthly to unproductive ones. However, functional meeting leadership demonstrates strategic thinking and team productivity skills that predict advancement.
Tactical implementation: The number one indicator that "This meeting could have been an email" is were people engaged or did they stay on mute the whole time? If they don't engage, then what you likely had for them was a "broadcast" not a meeting, and broadcasts can be sent through video, audio, or in writing, like email, they do not need to be meetings.
This is one of my 4 signature sessions (Speaking & Intensives), I can really help with this. To get you started, I did a podcast episode on this topic, Could This Meeting Have Been An Email. Take a listen, dive into this one. Ask your peers for feedback. Copy/paste the calendar event and the meeting transcript into AI and ask AI for feedback like we did above in Number 3. Also, if you've never sent a recorded video as communication, incorporate that as a regular part of your repertoire.
Don't skip this. Good and efficient meetings get you promoted!
Photo from Pexels
5. AI and Automation Mastery
AI-skilled workers earn 28% higher salaries and complete 40% better quality work. Harvard Business School partnered with Boston Consulting Group to study AI productivity impact. The results: consultants using GPT-4 achieved 40% higher quality work, completed tasks 25% faster, and finished 12.2% more tasks overall.
Early-career talent with AI skills receive greater responsibilities according to 77% of leaders.
Tactical implementation: How much are you using AI? It's not about "if AI is relevant to your job". These days, when you're being considered for promotion you need to already be telling them "how AI is relevant to your job."
2 Hot Tips:
1) Use this question at the end of your initial AI prompt, "Ask me questions, one at a time, until you have everything you need." This will get AI to provide you better answers, but also start helping you practice to know what you left out of your prompt.
2) Volunteer to get involved in your workplace and for your team. Organizations want to know how they can incorporate it. Volunteer to be a part of that movement.
6. Decision-Making Speed and Quality
Fast decision-makers achieve 2x higher financial returns, but only 37% of organizations excel at both speed and quality. McKinsey research shows companies excelling at decision-making show 2x likelihood of achieving 20%+ financial returns.
Decision speed and quality both strongly correlate with individual advancement according to leadership research.
Tactical implementation: Do you have a system for making decisions? Can you articulate it? You need to be able to do both of these. Go on YouTube or Online Learning and educate yourself, or if you're a reader like I am, read a book or two on it. Also, you need to be comfortable making decisions. Waiting for people to make decisions is one of the biggest wastes in organizations, and many times the decision does not have any consequence behind it. See if you can get from your boss, AND if you can give the members of your team, a framework for when you want them to make decisions. Something like:
"If the decision you're making will not result in legal trouble, compliance violations, physical harm to anyone, damage to important business relationships, and could be undone for less than $500, then I want you to make the decision, don't wait for approval. However, if it sets a new precedent for how we handle similar situations in the future, check with me first regardless of the dollar amount. If you can't reach me within 2 hours and the decision can't wait, use your best judgment and we'll discuss it afterward. The higher you can make that dollar threshold, the better this can go."
Increase or decrease that dollar threshold, try to keep it as high as you can. If your organizational culture limits delegation authority, start smaller - even $50 decisions or specific task categories create team efficiency gains while building your credibility as a leader.
7. Deep Work and Focus Capabilities
Workers switch apps 250 times daily with 47-second attention spans, making focus skills increasingly valuable. Deep work research shows high-quality work equals time spent multiplied by intensity of focus.
Interruptions cost 20+ minutes to regain momentum, making focus capacity progressively important. Research proves maximum 4 hours daily before attention diminishes.
Tactical implementation: Protect your peak hours ruthlessly. Block 90-120 minutes of your best energy time for your most important work. No meetings, no email, no Slack - just deep work. Use the phone-in-another-room test - if your phone is within arm's reach, you're not really doing deep work. Master the art of saying "I'm in deep work mode until [specific time], I'll get back to you then." Most "urgent" requests can wait 2 hours. Practice progressive focus building - start with 25-minute blocks and work up to 90-120 minute sessions.
For me personally, I found my superpower by using "focus music" during my focus periods. I wrote about it here with some links to free playlists for you to try for yourself if you like. Turbocharge Your Focus & Productivity Through Music.
8. Systems Thinking and Strategic Perspective
Strategic thinking skills directly correlate with promotion readiness and measurable advancement advantages. Leaders who demonstrate systems thinking show measurable advancement advantages by connecting their work to broader business outcomes.
Tactical implementation:
Before every project or major task, ask yourself these three questions:
1) How does this connect to our company's top 3 business goals?
2) Who else is impacted by this work (other departments, customers, vendors)?
3) What could go wrong, and what would we do about it?
Start every status update or presentation by connecting your work to bigger business outcomes - lead with impact, not just activity.
Volunteer for cross-functional projects where you can see how different departments work together.
Read your company's quarterly earnings calls transcripts - you'll understand what leadership actually cares about and can speak their language.
Practice the "so what?" test - if you can't explain why your work matters to someone three levels above you, you need to think bigger picture.
Constantly connecting what you're doing with what the bosses in those higher meetings are talking about is a power move for your career. Your impact on your organization's big picture is a major part of promotion decisions.
Where to Start
Feeling overwhelmed by eight skills? Start with these three in order:
Time management systems provide the foundation for everything else.
Decision-making frameworks create immediate team productivity gains.
Communication efficiency amplifies the impact of your other improvements.
The Compound Effect of Skill Development
Professionals with multiple productivity skills experience exponentially higher promotion rates. LinkedIn Learning data reveals goal-oriented learners engage 4x more with development opportunities, while 94% of employees stay longer at companies investing in career development.
Merit-based promotion systems increasingly reward demonstrable skills over tenure. Machine learning analysis of promotion patterns shows training completion rates increase promotion probability by 23%, while cross-functional experience boosts promotion likelihood by 35%.
Organizations with strong coaching cultures generate 51% higher revenue and create more advancement opportunities for productivity-skilled professionals with 62% higher engagement.
The People Skills That Also Matter
While this post focused on productivity skills that drive promotions, career advancement requires complementary people skills too. In my recent interview with Kendall Berg from That Career Coach, she shared valuable insights about the interpersonal side of getting promoted.
Two critical gaps separate high performers who plateau from those who advance faster.
First, most people assume their boss knows what they're doing. Wrong. Your boss is too busy to track your contributions unless you advocate for yourself strategically.
Second, networking should consume 20% of your time, yet most people abandon relationship-building when busy. Kendall recommends dedicating 20% of your time to networking - not just with peers, but with your boss's peers and their boss too. She personally meets with 26 people at her boss's level or higher every quarter through quick coffee chats and brief check-ins.
Promotion decisions happen in "cross-calibration" sessions where peers evaluate you before you see your review. Most organizations use "cross-calibration" sessions where your boss discusses your promotion with their peers before you ever see your performance review. If those peers don't know who you are or what you contribute, you're at a massive disadvantage.
Communication skills become increasingly critical as you advance. Poor communication can stall careers even when productivity is excellent. Kendall's advice: do small talk at meeting starts, ask questions instead of immediately disagreeing, and always acknowledge others before responding.
The combination is powerful: master the eight productivity skills above while building strategic relationships and communication capabilities. That's the formula for sustained career advancement.
Your Next Steps for Career Acceleration
Start testing yourself in these areas. Leverage AI to assess yourself don't wait for your boss. We talked about how you can use AI to assess yourself. Take a minute and do that right now.
Take training in these 8 areas. If you have access to a coach through your organization, research shows coaching delivers 788% ROI with 70% higher likelihood of advancement within one year. However, you can self-implement many of these eight skills by looking up videos on YouTube. Don't let cost be a factor in whether you're developing. Use the free options unless paid options are available.
Communicate your productivity improvements strategically to managers and stakeholders. The MIT research on potential ratings shows that demonstrable capability matters more than current performance alone. Make your enhanced productivity visible. For each of the things you do, make a note, and incorporate it in your upcoming performance review discussion with your boss. They need to know what you're doing to develop and how it's going.
As you implement these skills, expect some initial resistance to changes in delegation and decision-making processes. This is part of leadership development - introducing better systems often requires working through team members' comfort with existing approaches.
These eight productivity skills create measurable career advantages backed by research across thousands of professionals. In an economy where productivity gaps cost companies millions annually, mastering these competencies positions you as indispensable talent worthy of advancement and investment.
Time is the currency of your life. Invest it in skills that compound your career growth.
References & Further Reading
MIT Sloan - Women are less likely than men to be promoted. Here's one reason why
McKinsey - Increasing your return on talent: The moves and metrics that matter
Harvard Business School - How to Delegate Effectively: 9 Tips for Managers
Harvard Business School - Navigating the Jagged Technological Frontier
Harvard Business Review - How to Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking Skills
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. As a kid I took time for granted, but now as an adult, time is the most precious thing that I have. After spending a career hands-on in the trenches as a leader at all levels, I now train Productivity Gladiators to level up their careers. Graduates wield superpowers in time management, practical leadership, communication, & productivity. If what you’ve seen here intrigues you, reach out, let’s chat!
“Time is the currency of your life, spend it wisely.”
Digital Clutter Is Slowing You Down - Here’s Some Ideas On Digital Organization You Should Steal
Digital clutter is silently wrecking your productivity. In this deep dive inspired by my conversation with digital organization expert Judith Guertin, I break down the hidden costs of disorganized files, scattered tools, and endless app switching. Backed by research from Pew, Asana, and Stanford, you’ll learn why your brain struggles to focus—and exactly how to create a simpler, more resilient digital system. From naming conventions to backup strategies to using AI responsibly, here’s your roadmap to a digital life that’s organized, stress-free, and future-proof.
"Time is the currency of your life. Spend it wisely."
That's not just something I say on stage or on my podcast. I feel it in my bones, every day.
And digital disorganization is a big waste of that currency.
This blog was inspired by a conversation I had with digital productivity expert, and professional organizer, Judith Guertin on The Productivity Gladiator Podcast. Judith has helped people organize their lives for over 25 years, and her insights hit me right between the eyes when she said:
"If you don't see me write it down, it's just a lie. It's not going to happen."
Time spent looking for information is wasted time. Even though I've built systems that keep teams and businesses running at their most productive, I still have pockets of chaos on my computer (ahem, my downloads folder...sigh).
Here's what I learned researching this topic. After that episode with Judith, I took a deep dive into how you organize the notes you write, and the digital files you have. I'm paying it forward here by sharing the biggest mistakes myself and others make that I found through research, and the best recommendations I could find to avoid those pitfalls.
Why This Matters
You're wasting hours you don't realize. According to McKinsey, the average knowledge worker spends 20% of their week just looking for information. That's 1 out of every 5 days lost to hunting through files, looking through notes you wrote, searching email, or re-downloading the same attachment for the third time.
Digital clutter hurts your brain. Neuroscience shows that disorganization increases cognitive load, reduces working memory, and creates stress. The more clutter on your screen, the more you feel overwhelmed, even if you don't consciously register it.
The problem keeps growing. IDC reports the total amount of data created each year doubles about every two years. By 2025, it's expected to hit 175 zettabytes. If you don't have systems to manage your digital life, it's only going to get harder.
What the Research Says About Digital Overload
Disorganization costs money. A McKinsey study estimates companies lose $1 million per year per 1,000 employees from disorganized digital workflows.
The problem's getting worse, not better. Buffer's 2023 report found that 41% of remote workers struggle to find information across tools - up from 31% before the pandemic.
Attention residue drains you. Every time you leave a messy desktop or too many open tabs, your brain keeps processing those incomplete tasks. That's "attention residue," and it can lower your IQ by up to 10 points temporarily.
The Big Digital Organization Mistakes
(And How to Fix Them)
Photo from Pexels
Mistake #1: Saving Everything "Just in Case"
I used to keep every draft, every photo, every duplicate. But here's the thing: if you can't find anything when you need it, it's not "saved" - it's buried.
Your brain forms emotional attachments to digital files. Research shows people experience genuine distress when deleting items, even screenshots they'll never look at again. This emotional attachment creates decision paralysis that makes organizing feel overwhelming.
How to fix it:
Start archiving now. Gmail introduced the concept of an "Archive" and it changed my world! Now I use it everywhere, not just email, and it works great! Let's say for example you have a folder with a bunch of documents, some old, some new. Create a subfolder within that folder called "Archive", and drag all the old stuff into it.
If you clearly know it's trash, delete the file. But for everything that makes you hesitate when you ask yourself "is this trash?" - it goes in the archive. It's out of the way, but still there if you ever need to reference it later.
Archive as you go. Don't wait until you find time to "get organized." The most common excuse I get is "I know, I need to set aside time so I can get organized." Please no, don't do that. That day will never come.
There's never magically going to be a time when you'll have a bunch of free time and choose to spend it getting organized. Just do it as you go. Add an archive folder to the folder you're in right now today and clean up just that one. Slowly over time you'll get there. The point is to make progress, not make this its own task.
Mistake #2: No Naming Conventions
Judith put this perfectly: "You can't search 'Document 27' if you don't know it's Document 27."
Your brain can only handle about 7 pieces of information at once. Every time you see "Document Final V3 Real Final," you're forcing your working memory to decode what that actually means. This decision fatigue accumulates throughout the day and makes you avoid organizing altogether. If you share files with teammates or customers through email, this effect makes it even worse! Today I received a file called "2701.59 AO Initial 2476.pdf". HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS?! How do you know I'll even open it?
According to Asana's Anatomy of Work report, nearly 60% of time is spent on "work about work" - communicating about work, searching for information, switching between apps, managing shifting priorities, and chasing status updates.
How to fix it:
Use a naming convention you, your future self, and someone who may come after you, will all skim and understand. I recommend using a simple, consistent naming convention so you can instantly see what a file is without opening it. For example, many of my clients start every file name with YYYYMMDD format + project + description:
20241215-ClientName-Proposal-v1
Here's the genius of the YYYYMMDD format: When your files are sorted alphabetically (the default in most systems), they automatically appear in chronological order with the most recent files first. All your 2025 files appear before 2024, December before January, etc.
When you search "Proposal," everything is chronologically organized. Even if you don't follow this exact pattern, having any convention beats naming files "Document Final V3 Real Final."
Mistake #3: Your Stuff Is Everywhere
Switching between Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and random sources creates friction. Research from Harvard Business Review shows task-switching can reduce productivity by 40%.
Your brain craves cognitive consistency. When files are scattered across platforms, it creates mental friction every time you need to remember "where did I save that?" This decision fatigue actually reduces your IQ temporarily and makes you more likely to avoid organizing altogether.
How to fix it:
Pick one home for work, one for personal. You need to make a decision and stick with it. For work files, choose ONE cloud platform and move everything there. Same for personal files.
The cognitive load of remembering "where did I save that?" across multiple platforms is killing your productivity.
Create clear boundaries. For work, I use SharePoint for files and Microsoft OneNote for notes. If you're on a team, you should be saving all documents in a team shared drive, NOT your individual OneDrive.
This way, when you take a 2-week trip to Europe (you'll be able to now, if you follow this practice), anyone who needs to step in while you're away can find the files to cover for you.
For personal files, I use Dropbox for digital files and Google Drive for notes and documents I create. If I'm looking for something, there's only one place it would be.
Mistake #4: No Backup Plan
Judith shared a quote on the podcast that stuck with me: "There are only two kinds of drives - those that have failed and those that will."
It's true. Yet 29% of people still don't back up their files at all.
How to fix it:
Use the 3-2-1 backup strategy: 3 copies of important data, 2 different storage media, 1 offsite backup.
Here's what this looks like in practice:
Your original file lives on your computer (original file)
Which automatically syncs to a cloud service like Google Drive or a SharePoint folder (copy 2, different media)
For work, your organization should automatically backup your SharePoint
For your personal computer, you also have an external hard drive or second cloud service that you copy everything to every few months (copy 3, offsite)
IMPORTANT: One of the copies (or really, ideally, both of them) needs to be automatic and scheduled. If you have to remember to do it, you've already lost.
I use Google Drive and a local hard drive. If you want extra peace of mind, add a cloud backup tool like Backblaze or Carbonite.
Mistake #5: Keeping Old Versions
How many times have you edited the wrong file or sent the wrong version to a client? You're not alone: 83% of knowledge workers have done the same.
How to fix it:
Use version control that actually works. Cloud platforms like Google Drive and SharePoint have built-in version history. This means you can stop creating "Final v2" and "Final FINAL" files because all versions are saved by the platform. Instead, save over the same file and let the platform track versions automatically.
Delete old versions once you're sure. After a project is completely done, go back and clean house. Keep the final version and archive or delete the rest.
Mistake #6: Not Utilizing Search (Especially AI-Powered Search)
How many times have you thought "I wrote that down" and then spent 10 minutes or more browsing and looking in places trying to find it? Ever given up looking for it, just thought "oh well, I'll find it eventually"?
Information anxiety is real and measurable. When people can't find information they know exists, it triggers the same stress response as physical threats. This creates a negative feedback loop where the fear of not finding things makes you avoid organizing, which makes finding things even harder.
How to fix it:
Learn your search functions. Every platform has search capabilities most people never use. Google Drive can search inside PDFs and documents. Outlook can search by sender, date range, and keywords. Spend 10 minutes learning the search shortcuts for your main platforms.
Try AI-powered search. Google Gemini can search entire Drive folders in seconds. Microsoft Copilot in 365 helps teams pull up files during collaboration. These tools are getting scary good at finding what you need, even if you don't remember exactly what you called it.
Set up regular maintenance rituals. Judith recommends - and I fully agree - that you schedule small maintenance rituals instead of letting clutter build up. Many people block 20 minutes every Friday to clear downloads, file new documents, and delete junk. People think they'll "get organized someday," but the best system is regular small cleanups. Personally, I review my most-used folders frequently and set aside time once a month to catch up fully.
Mistake #7: Not Preparing for Your Own Vacations
You've organized your files, but have you actually tried having someone else step into your role and understand what you were working on? Poor handoffs hurt your reputation and burn bridges.
Context collapse is a real cognitive phenomenon. Digital files lose their environmental context over time - you won't remember why you saved something or what circumstances made it important. This makes future handoffs nearly impossible and creates stress when you need to reference your own work months later.
Research shows that knowledge transfer during employee transitions is critical, and individuals who document their processes experience smoother transitions and better performance reviews.
How to fix it:
Document your recurring tasks. Write simple how-to guides for the things you do regularly. Future you (or your replacement) will thank you.
Try taking your vacation before you actually go on one. Let someone take over your role for a week. Were they able to follow all the guides you left? If there's anything that isn't done correctly, or questions that were answered, update your documentation. A month later try it again.
Photo from Pexels
Ready to Take Control? Your 4-Step Action Plan
Look, I could give you a 20-step process, but you'd never do it. Here are the four things that will give you the biggest bang for your buck:
1. Pick your platforms and stick with them.
Right now, choose ONE cloud service for work files and ONE for personal files. Start saving everything there, and little bit at a time, move everything over there. No need to set aside a big block of time to make this move, just STOP putting things in the wrong places. Move everything over to the right spot in the coming months. Stop the platform hopping.
2. Start your naming convention today.
Pick a simple format, use YYYYMMDD, like "20250130-ProjectName-Description" and use it for every new file you create. Don't worry about renaming old files - just be consistent going forward.
3. Start Archiving.
Right now, pick one folder on your computer and create an "Archive" subfolder inside it. Move the old stuff into the archive. Don't overthink it - if you hesitate about whether to delete something, it goes in the archive instead.
4. Master your search capabilities.
Enable AI search on what you have now, and start using it. Stop mindlessly searching manually for things, clicking through folders, hoping you'll find it. On the internet you "google it". With your files, you need to be doing the same.
That's it. Four things. Do these, and you'll be ahead of 90% of people when it comes to digital organization.
Time is the currency of your life. Stop wasting it looking for stuff you already created.
References & Further Reading
McKinsey Global Institute: The Social Economy - Unlocking Value and Productivity Through Social Technologies - Reports that knowledge workers spend 20% of their week searching for information
https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/the-social-economyAsana: 2023 Anatomy of Work Global Index - Found that 58-60% of work time is spent on "work about work" including searching for information
https://asana.com/resources/anatomy-of-workHarvard Business Review: How Much Time and Energy Do We Waste Toggling Between Applications? - Documents that workers toggle between apps 1,200 times per day, spending 4 hours per week reorienting
https://hbr.org/2022/08/how-much-time-and-energy-do-we-waste-toggling-between-applicationsStanford University: Media Multitaskers Pay Mental Price - Shows that task-switching reduces productivity and cognitive performance
https://news.stanford.edu/stories/2009/08/multitask-research-study-082409Buffer: State of Remote Work 2023 - Found 41% of remote workers struggle to find information across tools
https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work/2023IDC: The Data Age 2025 Report - Data creation doubles every two years, reaching 175 zettabytes by 2025
https://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/our-story/trends/files/idc-seagate-dataage-whitepaper.pdfMark, G., Gudith, D., & Klocke, U. (2008). "The Cost of Interrupted Work: More Speed and Stress." CHI '08 Proceedings - Research on interruption costs
https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/1357054.1357072Cognitive Load Theory Overview - How mental overload affects performance
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/cognitive-load-theorySophie Leroy (2009). "Why is it so hard to do my work? The challenge of attention residue when switching between work tasks." Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes - Original attention residue research showing it takes 23 minutes to refocus
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597809000399American Psychological Association: Stress in America - Technology and Social Media - Research on technology's impact on stress levels
https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2017/technology-social-media.pdfDigital Hoarding Research - PMC - Studies on digital hoarding behavior and emotional attachment to files
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6785915/Productivity Gladiator Podcast: Digital Organization Mistakes with Judith Guertin
https://www.productivitygladiator.com/episodes/mistakes-people-make-that-leave-their-digital-life-unorganized-with-judith-guertin
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. As a kid I took time for granted, but now as an adult, time is the most precious thing that I have. After spending a career hands-on in the trenches as a leader at all levels, I now train Productivity Gladiators to level up their careers. Graduates wield superpowers in time management, practical leadership, communication, & productivity. If what you’ve seen here intrigues you, reach out, let’s chat!
“Time is the currency of your life, spend it wisely.”
Can You Quit Social Media? Should You? Stop Hiding Behind These Excuses.
Social media isn’t just stealing your time — it’s draining your focus and fueling your stress. In this deeper dive sparked by my conversation with focus expert Penny Zenker, I break down the hidden productivity costs of scrolling, what the research says, and how you can reclaim your attention without quitting cold turkey.
Bottom Line Up Front: You should quit social media.
Hold on, that doesn’t mean delete your accounts, but I've researched every excuse I’ve ever heard, and the research never supports staying on it.
This started with a question I've been asking for over a decade. Since 2014, I've kicked off my time management workshops the same way: "What's your biggest time waster or time suck?" Without fail, “Social Media” wins by a landslide. Every. Single. Time.
Then I had a podcast conversation that changed everything. I sat down with Penny Zenker, a focus expert, to debate whether people should actually quit social media. What started as a friendly discussion sent me down a rabbit hole digging deep into the research behind every excuse I've heard over the years on why people can’t quit. Here are the results.
Spoiler alert: The excuses don't hold up.
I researched and fact-checked them all. Here's how I'm going to present the results below:
Some background on why this matters (and why the algorithms are literally designed to beat you)
Every excuse I've heard, what the research actually says, and what works better
What I do instead (which you can steal)
Some Background
Photo from Pew Research Center
Why This Matters for Your Productivity
The algorithms are smarter than you. They're literally designed to keep you scrolling using slot machine psychology. You never know when that next dopamine hit is coming, so you keep scrolling.
Here's what it's actually costing you: Every time you bounce from deep work to check your feed, it takes 23 minutes to refocus. You think you're multitasking - you're actually task-switching, which makes you slower and more error-prone at everything.
The damage goes deeper. Studies show excessive social media use tanks your working memory, hurts job performance, and increases stress and depression. 43% of adults say checking social media stresses them out. Yet they keep doing it anyway.
My Perspective on This
Full transparency: I'm coming at this from both sides. I use these platforms personally and run a business that markets through them. I've lived the creator hustle, felt the algorithm anxiety, and experienced both the highs of viral content and the lows of posting into the void.
The problem isn't the tool - it's how we use it. Social media has real benefits: networking, news, learning. But most of us aren't using it strategically. We're just scrolling.
Who This Is For
If you're a regular person, a consumer of social media using it for "networking," "staying informed," or "entertainment" without a clear business purpose, this is definitely for you.
If you're a small business owner, thought leader, or sales agent using it hoping to generate revenue, this is definitely for you. The research and findings below should be a big help.
If your paycheck depends on social media and you're a creator, community manager, or social media marketer, this isn't telling you to quit tomorrow. But the research about burnout and mental health impacts is still valuable for you to understand. Think of it like when they discovered cigarettes cause cancer and you worked for a cigarette company. You don't have to quit your job immediately, but consider it a nudge to diversify beyond just social media.
So let's bust some myths. I'll walk you through every excuse I've heard, what the research says, and what works better.
The Benefits of Social Media (Yes, They Exist)
Before I tear apart every excuse, let me be honest: social media does have genuine benefits. Dismissing them would be disingenuous, and I'd probably lose all my credibility with you. Here are the genuine benefits:
Sometimes it actually saves lives. During Hurricane Helene (which I lived through), social media provided real-time updates that were genuinely life-saving. When the power's out and traditional news is down, those Facebook posts and Facebook neighborhood groups can become your lifeline.
It connects people who can't connect anywhere else.
People with rare diseases find their tribe.
Artists discover audiences they'd never reach otherwise.
My wife and I moved twice in one year. Facebook Marketplace saved us thousands on furniture.
When I meet hundreds of people at conferences, LinkedIn beats collecting business cards every time.
And yeah, it's changed the game for creators and small businesses. Musicians launch careers from their bedrooms. Local businesses reach customers without massive ad budgets. You might even be reading this because of a LinkedIn post.
But here's the big question: Are you actually using social media for these benefits? Or are you just... scrolling?
Because if we're being brutally honest, most of us aren't strategically networking or finding life-saving emergency info. We're watching cat videos at 11 PM and wondering where the last hour went.
That's the real problem. Not that social media has zero value. It's that the costs to your attention, productivity, and mental health far outweigh the benefits you're actually getting from mindless scrolling.
So let's talk about those excuses...
Every Excuse I’ve Heard To Stay On Social Media
Strap in…this is where it gets interesting. Over the years, I've heard every excuse in the book. Maybe you'll recognize a few of your own in here. Here's what people tell me, what the research actually shows, and what works better.
"I Need It to Stay Connected" & Social Excuses
These excuses also sound like:
"It's how I stay in touch with friends and family."
"That's how my generation communicates."
"Everyone uses it. I'll be left out."
"I need to support friends going through tough times."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Passive social media makes relationships weaker, not stronger. Public reactions (you “liked” their post) provide almost zero emotional benefit to people in crisis. 25% of adults have quit social media without any social consequences. People who quit report stronger, more meaningful connections within weeks.
What works better:
Replace likes with actual phone calls. Send them direct messages. Video calls would be even better. Or record a video of yourself talking to them and sent it! Use social media only as a logistics tool, like finding someone's contact info. Focus on your closest 5-15 relationships instead of maintaining hundreds of superficial connections.
Real talk:
When I moved to Tampa from DC, I messaged old contacts I hadn't spoken to in almost 20 years. Only a third responded, but we picked up exactly where we left off. Real relationships survive without constant social media maintenance.
"I Need It for Work" & Business Excuses
These excuses also sound like:
"Everyone in my field uses LinkedIn."
"I need it to promote my business."
"I have to stay current with industry trends."
"It's networking."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Email marketing delivers 4,200% ROI while social media generates as low as 0.9% conversion rates. Workplace productivity drops 13-15% with unrestricted social media access. Most "work" social media use is actually personal browsing in disguise. And get this…nearly 50% of your "engagement" comes from bots, not real humans.
What works better:
Schedule posts in weekly batches. Use LinkedIn like a digital business card. Update it quarterly, engage meaningfully, then get off. Invest in email marketing ($42 return per $1 spent) and face-to-face networking.
Reality check:
A very successful speaker I know told me, "I've made millions in my career. 95% came from referrals. Only 5% came from social media." He wasn't against social media, just realistic about proportionally where to spend his time.
"I Need to Stay Informed" & Info Excuses
These excuses also sound like:
"I need to stay current with news."
"What if something important happens?"
"I follow educational accounts."
"It's for research and learning."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Social media gives you shallow, fragmented information that feels like learning but isn't. Algorithms prioritize engagement over accuracy. Educational content mixed with entertainment actually hurts learning retention.
What works better:
Pick 1-2 reputable news sources and check once daily. Use AI for research. It'll search Google Scholar and academic sources for you. Try dedicated learning apps instead of educational social media accounts.
Personal confession:
This was my excuse for years. Now I get all my news from three 5-minute newsletters:
Local News in my city: Axios Local
National News: Morning Brew
Political News: Tangle
I feel more informed than when I was doom-scrolling for "news."
"It's Just Entertainment" & Boredom Excuses
AI-generated by ChatGPT
These excuses also sound like:
"It's just entertainment."
"I'm bored otherwise."
"I only look at funny content."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Social media "entertainment" is designed to be addictive, not genuinely enjoyable. Those algorithms mix funny videos with engagement-driving content to keep you scrolling. Users actually report lower satisfaction from social media compared to books, movies, or hobbies.
And here's the kicker about boredom:
It's actually a superpower. Boredom improves creativity and problem-solving. Ever notice how your best ideas come in the shower or while driving? That's your unstimulated brain doing its thing.
What works better:
Choose intentional entertainment - comedy specials instead of TikTok videos, books instead of Instagram stories. Learn to let your mind wander for 5-minute periods. You'll be amazed what happens when you're not constantly stimulated.
"It Helps Me Relax" & Sleep Excuses
These excuses also sound like:
"I use it to wind down."
"I use it at night when I can't fall asleep."
"My phone is my alarm clock, so I need it in bed."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Social media increases stress hormones and mental stimulation. Blue light disrupts sleep cycles. Screen time before bed makes insomnia worse, not better.
What works better:
Read fiction, listen to sleep podcasts (try "Nothing Much Happens"), or practice meditation for actual relaxation. And yes, you can get a real alarm clock - they still make those.
Personal confession:
I used the alarm clock excuse for 10 years. "I have to have my phone in bed!" Recently, I implemented a strict rule: NO PHONE IN BED. Ever.
The results shocked me: I sleep 45 minutes more per night according to my tracker. I fall asleep faster and stay asleep better. When I'm in bed, my only job is sleeping. I also spend less time in bed overall.
My setup now: Apple Watch vibrates me awake gently (wife sleeps through it). Backup alarm clock across the room forces me to actually get up. Revolutionary concept, I know.
"What if my wife/kids/family calls?" This is the most common worry, especially for parents. Here's how it works for me: 1) My wife is in my "favorites," and those calls bypass focus mode so my phone still rings, anytime day or night. 2) When my phone rings/vibrates, my watch vibrates too, so I get the call and can answer it.
For you, if emergency calls are frequent, keep the phone across the room or just outside the bedroom door. Don't let this excuse keep it on your nightstand.
“It’s Not A Big Deal” Excuses
The excuses sound like this:
"I only check it a few times a day."
"Everyone else uses it more."
"At least I don't have real addictions."
"I can stop anytime."
Here's what the research actually shows:
Heavy users underestimate their usage by 200-300%. Most people check social media 50-100+ times daily while thinking it's "just a few times." Behavioral addictions use the same brain pathways as substance addictions. Saying "I can quit anytime" without actually trying is classic addiction behavior.
Reality check:
Comparing your usage to others is like saying "I'm only jumping off a smaller cliff." You're still jumping off a cliff.
What works better:
Turn on screen time tracking to see your real numbers. Set actual limits. Want to prove you're not addicted? Take a 2-week break. If it's easy, you'll prove your point. If it's hard... well, you'll have some valuable information about yourself.
What I Do Instead (Which You Can Steal)
Full transparency: I still have all my social media accounts. I'm not telling you to delete everything and become a digital hermit. But I've completely changed how I use them.
Photo from Pexels
1. I treat it like a business tool, not entertainment. You can find me on social media, but I'm not living there. LinkedIn gets checked once daily, everything else once weekly. I only post if it builds people up or adds real value - no mindless sharing or scrolling.
2. My phone became a phone again. Deleted all social apps. Browser access only on my phone and my computer, with tools like #blockit to eliminate newsfeeds completely. Zero notifications. Zero temptation.
3. I automated my willpower. Built-in screen time limits: 15 minutes per day on social media, total. When it's gone, it's gone. I don't rely on self-control - I rely on systems.
4. I replaced the habit. When boredom hits, I text friends, read, scroll through my own photos, or open Duolingo. Anything but social media.
5. I batch it like email. One 10-15 minute session daily from my computer (feels more intentional). Check notifications, respond to messages, get out. No browsing, no rabbit holes.
6. No phone in bed. Ever. This one change alone added 45 minutes to my sleep.
The result? I don't feel deprived. I feel in control.
But Still…Influencers Make Money…
I get it. After everything I've said, you're still thinking about it. The Instagram stars, the YouTube success stories, the TikTok millionaires. It looks so appealing from the outside.
Trust me, I fell for it too. When I started Productivity Gladiator, I tried to be everywhere: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube. I spent hours every week scheduling posts, creating content for each platform, trying to crack the algorithm code. After months of this exhausting routine, I'd made exactly $0 from social media toward my business.
Then I got smart and focused. I kept LinkedIn (where my actual customers look for me) and YouTube for longer content. I also have an email newsletter, a podcast, and a blog - content that lasts forever and doesn't depend on algorithms. Everything else? Just billboards now. They're there to direct people where to find me, and I post every few weeks to indicate that I’m still around, but I don't actively feed the content machine.
Instead, I invested all that time and effort in real networking - phone calls, actual conversations, joining the National Speakers Association, building genuine relationships.
The results? The last three years, my business has grown significantly year over year. Not from viral posts (I had some of those too, but they don’t generate $) or follower counts, but from real people who know and trust me. The upward trend continues based on my own control and effort. It feels sustainable for the long haul. Check back in 10 years - I'll have more data to prove it.
Here's the research that backs up my experience: 90% of social media influencers experience burnout - nearly double the rate of traditional workers. The financial reality is even harsher: 71% of creators earn less than $30,000 annually, and only 12% make more than $50,000. Most creator careers flame out in just 5-7 years, with creators living in constant anxiety about algorithm changes that can wipe out their income overnight.
Meanwhile, people who focus on real relationship-building report significantly higher satisfaction and financial security. The scariest part? There are virtually no long-term studies tracking what happens to influencers after they burn out.
Here's another telling sign: I've never heard of a retirement party for a social media influencer. At my first job, I noticed no one was retiring - everyone either quit or got fired. That was a clear sign it wasn't a good long-term place to be. I'm seeing the same pattern with influencer careers.
Final Thought: Your Attention is Currency
Social media isn't evil - but it is engineered to waste your time and make money for everyone except you.
Think about it: The creators make money. The platforms make MORE money. The advertisers do it because they end up making money. You spend the MOST time on it and make... nothing.
Here's what really drives this home: An Australian hospice nurse named Bronnie Ware spent years documenting the final regrets of dying patients.
The top regret she heard? "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
The second most common? "I wish I didn't work so hard."
They regret not connecting with real people, not pursuing their dreams, not being present for what mattered.
Notice what's NOT on that list? "I wish I'd spent more time on social media." No one on their deathbed regrets missing viral videos or not getting enough likes.
Your attention is currency. And if you're not budgeting it, someone else is spending it for you.
So stop letting algorithms run the show. Stop scrolling. Use social media strategically, or it'll use you.
Time is the currency of your life…spend it wisely.
References / Further Reading:
Mental health of social media influencers. Journal of Occupational Health.
Influencer Marketing Hub. Creator Earnings: Benchmark Report 2023
Stress in America: Coping with Change. American Psychological Association
Teens Spend Average of 4.8 Hours on Social Media Per Day. Gallup
Nomophobia: Dependency on virtual environments or social phobia? Computers in Human Behavior
The cost of interrupted work: More speed and stress. Proceedings of CHI
The association between adolescent well-being and digital technology use. Nature Human Behaviour
Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022. Pew Research Center
Teens and social media: Key findings from Pew Research Center surveys. Pew Research Center
Is Facebook creating "iDisorders"? Computers in Human Behavior
Executive control of cognitive processes in task switching. Journal of Experimental Psychology
Marketing ROI Statistics: 30+ Stats to Boost Your Strategy in 2024. Firework
Email Marketing ROI Statistics: The Ultimate List in 2025. Luisa Zhou
The Average Website Conversion Rate by Channel (2024). FigPii
Trust in Media 2025: Which news sources Americans use and trust. YouGov
Leveraging AI-Powered chatbots to enhance customer service efficiency. ResearchGate
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. As a kid I took time for granted, but now as an adult, time is the most precious thing that I have. After spending a career hands-on in the trenches as a leader at all levels, I now train Productivity Gladiators to level up their careers. Graduates wield superpowers in time management, practical leadership, communication, & productivity. If what you’ve seen here intrigues you, reach out, let’s chat!
“Time is the currency of your life, spend it wisely.”
How Many Hours Do You Spend On Social Media?
“Share your biggest time waster or time suck,” is the first activity we do in my workshop on the value of your time. “Social media” is the most common answer…by a landslide. Do you get that feeling too? Is it a struggle for you as well? If so, you’re not alone.
How much time do you spend on social media?
It’s time to get specific, how much time do you spend on social media? These days your phone will tell you. Do it right now.
So…let’s set some time limits for you, right now….
Social Media Addiction Series: Part 1
“Share your biggest time waster or time suck,” is the first activity we do in my workshop on the value of your time. “Social media” is the most common answer…by a landslide. Do you get that feeling too? Is it a struggle for you as well? If so, you’re not alone. During COVID-19, hundreds of people each month found my blog posts through internet searches on Social Media Addiction. Let’s discuss one of the first steps in improving your relationship with social media.
Acknowledgement: I recognize some people may need to spend more time on social media for business or other reasons. This is meant to help anyone who is interested in taking back the power in their relationship with social media.
Social media has been a struggle for me for years.
I was part of the very first wave of people to have a Facebook profile as Facebook expanded to more universities. I had a “.edu” email when it first launched so I was “in” back in 2004. I distinctly remember sitting in my room at Florida State University and registering for my Facebook profile, and marveling at this new way to spend my time online. Ever since then, social media has proven to be a constant struggle for people; constantly comparing ourselves to others, needing to see what others are doing, and getting lost in the ether of the scrolling. It’s not healthy. I have spent years trying to get better at it. Also, for me, I consider my time valuable, and all that time spent on social media platforms feels lost. I don’t tend to feel better when I spend hours of my time on social media. I’ve tried quite a few approaches, and I feel good about my relationship with (or really the lack of) social media in my life these days. I want you to feel better about your relationship with social media as well.
How much time do you spend on social media?
It’s time to get specific, how much time do you spend on social media? These days your phone will tell you. Do it right now.
To see screen time, go to Settings > Screen Time > tap See All Activity under the graph.
To set app limits, Settings > Screen Time > App Limits, then tap Add Limit. To set limits for individual apps, tap the category name to see all the apps in that category, then select the apps you want to limit.
Image Credit: Apple Insider
To track screen time, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > menu > Manage your data > toggle on Daily device usage.
To set app timers, open Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Dashboard > select app > tap hourglass icon > set a time limit > OK
Image Credit: Friend with Android
So…how many hours do YOU spend on social media?
Do you know the number? I want you to know the number. You need a starting point. Go on your phone as described above and add up the average daily time you spend on all of the social media platforms that keep you sucked in and scrolling or watching other recommended content specifically. I don’t loop in messaging apps in this - communicating with others is different to me. I’m talking about Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, TikTok, etc. I have a hunch you know exactly which ones I’m referring to. My total when I first started this journey was 2+ hours per day.
Okay, so how much time on social media is a healthy amount?
10 minutes per application and a total of 30 minutes per day. That recommendation comes from a University of Pennsylvania study. I have tried different amounts of time based on recommendations and research, and for me, I agree with this as a good amount of time to shoot for.
So…let’s set some time limits for you, right now.
The most common problem is that people don’t have any limits. We get sucked in, and there’s nothing to indicate or remind us how long we have been scrolling. Social media platforms control our time, instead of us controlling the time spent on social media! It’s your life, you control it, don’t leave it up to the app. You can tailor the limit to your needs, but don’t just wing it. Go set some limits on your phone right now, and see how you do. I recommend 10 minutes per app and 30 minutes per day total as a guide and a goal to work toward. If you spend more than an hour on social media per day currently, I recommend coming down in increments of 20-30 minutes per week, since “quitting cold turkey” might not work for everyone. Along that journey, I’m confident you’ll find the balance that works for you.
Wait, this whole post was just about your phone, what about all your other devices? There’s More!
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 1 - How Many Hours Do You Spend On Social Media?
(**You’re Reading This One)
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 2 - Free Hacks To Fix It
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 3 - Fix It With Apps And Tech Hacks
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. Time is precious. I created Productivity Gladiator because I saw what a difference it made to share small and specific actions you can take right now, right away, to achieve better work life balance, be more productive, and live your best life right now, today, not wait until retirement. I want you to start doing the things you WANT to do, not get stuck only chasing what you NEED to do. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you’ll subscribe, and if you’re so inclined, send me a note. It brings me joy sharing Productivity Gladiator with you.
Addiction To Social Media: Fix It With Apps and Tech Hacks
The good news is, technology and apps are being developed to help you keep social media under control.
Here are some of the apps and tech hacks you can use to help rein it in.
Social Media Addiction Series: Part 3
Updated 10/5/21: Removed app “Feedless” since the app is no longer on the ios app store, replaced with #Blockit which does the same thing even better
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, we started discussing this issue, now we continue with more solutions!
The good news is, technology and apps are being developed to help you keep social media under control.
Here are some of the apps and tech hacks you can use to help rein it in. If you haven’t already, before we dive in here, we recommend you take just a few minutes to read or refresh your memory on our last posts
1. #blockit, iOS app (alternatives available for other systems), Free
If you didn’t try the first hack in our other post, do it now, delete the social apps from your phone and try this free app. #blockit is a content blocker for iOS that removes the entire feed, stories, and other things from facebook when viewing it in your mobile safari browser. At the time of this writing, it did not work for the Chrome browser on iPhone, only the Safari browser, so I just am in the habit of using Safari whenever I check anything social media. This app allows people to still access Facebook’s core features like checking notifications and logging in to websites with your Facebook account while removing the newsfeed completely from the screen so you’re never sucked in to checking it! I love this hack, as it allows me to still check my notifications, but once that’s done, there’s nothing else distracting to see, so I just naturally move on to more important things. I find I’m only on facebook about once a day thanks to this app! This app works for Instagram, youtube, Twitter, and more, it works on one for free or you get them all for a one time $5 charge.
Before #blockit
After #blockit
2. Chrome Desktop Extensions, Free
A Chrome extension that eradicates the newsfeed and replacing it with inspiring quotes instead. There are other eradicator apps like this one, such as Distraction Free Youtube which eliminates the recommended videos on the right side of youtube. If you look, you’ll find many more of these for many of the other big sites many people get sucked into.
Another helpful Chrome extension is StayFocusd, it’s a productivity extension that allows you to place your own time limits for how long each day you can spend on time-wasting websites. After your time is up, it makes the site inaccessible for the rest of the day and your screen will simply say something along the lines of “Shouldn’t You Be Working?” in big text across the screen.
Newsfeed Eradicator Screen (left) & StayFocusd Screen (right)
3. Freedom App - Set Limits on all Devices
This is one of the all encompassing options. They describe it: ”Stop being distracted by your computer. Freedom is the app and website blocker for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS, used by over 750,000 people to reclaim focus and productivity. Experience the freedom to do what matters most.”
For those who just can’t help themselves, and need a more all-encompassing solution that covers all their devices, Freedom is the next step.
4. Scheduling Your Social Media Posting
Buffer Screen
If you’re using social media for business, fresh content and keeping people engaged is important. With apps like the below which allow you to schedule your posts, you can log on only once or twice a week or even once a month depending on your content. Simply schedule all your posts, and then go back to more important things with the rest of your time.
For Facebook, try Facebook’s post scheduling feature. This enables you to save draft posts and schedule them for the future.
Note: Facebook changed it’s API in 2018 to reduce the utility of other services like the one’s below, so I recommend doing your facebook scheduling in facebook itself.
For other social media sources, like Instragram, Twitter, Linkedin, etc, you have Buffer and Hootsuite. These platforms allow you to schedule posts and even monitor conversations and analyze the performance of your social media account as well. Batch your time spent on social media through the use of these apps, to get back to other more important things, like your work, and your life!
Discipline yourself and take control of what you do with your smartphones and computers. Escape from social media entanglement. I’m leaving you with this quote from Alan Lakein, on personal time management, “Time equals life; therefore, waste your time and waste of your life, or master your time and master your life.” Time is an investment, spend it with discernment.”
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 1 - How Many Hours Do You Spend On Social Media?
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 2 - Free Hacks To Fix It
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 3 - Fix It With Apps And Tech Hacks
(*You’re Reading This One)
Subscribe if you don’t already! Get these nuggets of knowledge in your email so you don’t have to go looking for them!
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. Time is precious. I created Productivity Gladiator because I saw what a difference it made to share small and specific actions you can take right now, right away, to achieve better work life balance, be more productive, and live your best life right now, today, not wait until retirement. I want you to start doing the things you WANT to do, not get stuck only chasing what you NEED to do. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you’ll subscribe, and if you’re so inclined, send me a note. It brings me joy sharing Productivity Gladiator with you.
Addiction to Social Media & Free Hacks To Fix It
“Wait, I just spent 45 minutes on Facebook? Instragram?”
For many, social media has become a habit, and the longer they stick with that habit, the harder it is to break. For some, it becomes an unhealthy addiction or an unfortunate obsession. Are you a constant social media checker? In your leisure time at home? At work? On school breaks? While in line at the grocery store? While eating? While in the bathroom?
So what can you do? Here’s life hacks to get you started!
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 2
“Wait, I just spent 45 minutes on Facebook? Instragram?”
In Part 1 of this series, we talked about just about smart phones, now in this Part 2 and Part 3, let’s look at the issue overall across all your devices.
For many, social media has become a habit, and the longer they stick with that habit, the harder it is to break. For some, it becomes an unhealthy addiction or an unfortunate obsession. Are you a constant social media checker? In your leisure time at home? At work? On school breaks? While in line at the grocery store? While eating? While in the bathroom?
Found at Digital Information World
Statistics from GWI in a report by the Digital Information World show that internet users are now spending an average of 2 hours and 22 minutes daily on messaging platforms and social networking applications. In a year, that’s a total of 863 hours!
Expand over a decade and that means the average person spent 8,630 hours on it during that time. If there’s 8,760 hours in a year, that means…
That’s one FULL YEAR spent on social media out of your last 10 years?!
Let’s assign some value to that time. Did you use the calculator in our earlier post and calculate how much your personal time is worth? If it’s $10/hr that means you spent $86,630 worth of your personal time on social media?
If you value your personal time at $25/hr, that’s $215,750 worth of your time you spend on social media over the last 10 years?!
That doesn’t even count the “opportunity cost” of the life experiences you missed out on during those hours. The best memories of the last decade likely haven’t involved the times you were on social media! How many real conversations could you have had with this time? How many games could you have played with your kids? How many dates could you have been on? How many romantic moments could you have had? Happy hours? Family movie nights? How much money could you have made if you picked up a side hustle instead?
Now this isn’t saying you should quit social media all together, though I support and admire those who do, and they often seem happier not to be on it! I’ve heard so many people in my workshops talk about how much they need it. “But I have to use it.” I hear you! For some it’s work. For others it’s family. For some it’s for a specific project. Social media is helpful and advantageous in many ways, but the time you consume for it is the problem, and it’s not too late to find solutions to that.
So what can you do? Here’s life hacks to get you started!
Productivity Gladiator is all about action. Here’s specific actions you can take right now to help get it under control. Start with one of these, then do another, then another, find the solutions that work for you, where you feel like you’re back in control. I recommend trying all of these below. Start at the top and try that one for a week, then try the next one. Once you’ve tried them all, you should have a combination of one or more that gets you to a better place where you feel in control. These are behavioral hacks you can change now, now costs or apps needed. In the next post we’ll share other apps and software to add another layer to your management of this time suck.
Turn off all of the notifications on all your devices.
Yep, your phone, your computer, your watch, your tablet, ALL OF THEM. This loosens social media’s constant nagging, “check me!” Now you’re back in control, it’s up to you when you check it, and won’t bother you when you don’t.Uninstall the social media apps from your phone.
This way you must use the browser to access social media. The experience isn’t as good on the mobile browser, so it’s not as easy to lose track of time, it helps make you slightly more aware of the time you’re spending.Sign out of your account every time you’re done,
Now you always have to sign in to access the social media sites. It’s the extra moment which makes you think about what you’re going to do.Use an “incognito” or “private” browser window, on both your phone and on your desktop. Most people aren’t good at remembering to log out each time, and this way the computer won’t remember you’re logged in, and you’ll have to go through the act of logging in each time, which will make you pause and think about what you’re doing.
Change your password to something AWFUL.
This way each time you’re logging on, you’ll have to think and type that phrase, such as “IMworthlessONsocials” or “1kittenisdyingbecauseofme!” or “IMbetterTHANthisUGH” or much worse! BE AGGRESSIVE! BE MEAN! YOU NEED TO THE REMINDER!Use an actual alarm clock instead of your phone.
In the morning, laying in bed. That’s the biggest time many of us fall into social media without meaning too. Avoid that completely. Get an alarm clock, maybe even one of the ones with a light that slowly gets brighter! I haven’t tried it, but something like this one could be an option?
Most importantly, if you find you’re unable to take any of the above steps, or it’s not making any difference, it may be time to talk to someone about this, a professional or therapist. There are real problems of addiction and depression that can come from social media. The Anxiety and Depression Association of America delves deeper into this. Please read, be self-aware, and seek help. It’s important! This is about the life you’re actually living, and you only get one of those, so prioritize that over social media!
Don’t stop here!
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 1 - How Many Hours Do You Spend On Social Media?
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 2 - Free Hacks To Fix It
(*You’re Reading This One)
SOCIAL MEDIA ADDICTION SERIES: PART 3 - Fix It With Apps And Tech Hacks
Subscribe if you don’t already! Get these nuggets of knowledge in your email so you don’t have to go looking for them!
I’m Brian. At age 4, I was diagnosed with insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes and told that my life was going to be 10-20 years shorter than everyone else. Time is precious. I created Productivity Gladiator because I saw what a difference it made to share small and specific actions you can take right now, right away, to achieve better work life balance, be more productive, and live your best life right now, today, not wait until retirement. I want you to start doing the things you WANT to do, not get stuck only chasing what you NEED to do. If any of this resonates with you, I hope you’ll subscribe, and if you’re so inclined, send me a note. It brings me joy sharing Productivity Gladiator with you.